Today Denzel Washington celebrates his 58th birthday. Everyone seems to have a different favorite Denzel movie. Since it’s an argument that could be debated for hours over 3 am post game beers we’ve decided to use empirical data from IMDB’s user base of millions to rank Denzel’s best movies.
To the right you’ll see the IMDb rank as decided by users and the movie title.
6.8 - He Got Game (1998)
A basketball player's father must try to convince him to go to a college so he can get a shorter sentence.
6.8 - John Q (2002)
A down-on-his luck father, whose insurance won't cover his son's heart transplant, takes the hospital's emergency room hostage until the doctors agree to perform the operation.
6.8 - The Book of Eli (2010)
A post-apocalyptic tale, in which a lone man fights his way across America in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind.
6.8 - Unstoppable (2010)
With an unmanned, half-mile-long freight train barreling toward a city, a veteran engineer and a young conductor race against the clock to prevent a catastrophe.
6.8 - Safe House (2012)
A young CIA agent is tasked with looking after a fugitive in a safe house. But when the safe house is attacked, he finds himself on the run with his charge.
7.0 - Deja Vu (2006)
An ATF agent travels back in time to save a woman from being murdered, falling in love with her during the process.
7.1 - A Soldier's Story (1984)
An African American officer investigates a murder in a racially charged situation in World War II.
7.2 - Crimson Tide (1995)
On a US nuclear missile sub, a young first officer stages a mutiny to prevent his trigger happy captain from launching his missiles before confirming his orders to do so.
7.2 - Antwone Fisher (2002)
Antwone Fisher, a young navy man, is forced to see a psychiatrist after a violent outburst against a fellow crewman. During the course of treatment a painful past is revealed and a new hope begins.
7.3 - Cry Freedom (1987)
South African journalist Donald Woods is forced to flee the country after attempting to investigate the death in custody of his friend the black activist Steve Biko.
7.3 - Much Ado About Nothing (1993)
Young lovers Hero and Claudio, soon to wed, conspire to get verbal sparring partners and confirmed singles Benedick and Beatrice to wed as well.
7.4 - The Hurricane (1999)
The story of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, a boxer wrongly imprisoned for murder, and the people who aided in his fight to prove his innocence.
7.5 - The Great Debaters (2007)
A drama based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College Texas. In 1935, he inspired students to form the school's first debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the national championship.
7.5 - Flight (2012)
An airline pilot saves a flight from crashing, but an investigation into the malfunctions reveals something troubling.
7.6 - Philadelphia (1993)
When a man with AIDS is fired by a conservative law firm because of his condition, he hires a homophobic small time lawyer as the only willing advocate for a wrongful dismissal suit.
7.6 - Remember the Titans (2000)
The true story of a newly appointed African-American coach and his high school team on their first season as a racially integrated unit.
7.6 - Training Day (2001)
On his first day on the job as a narcotics officer, a rookie cop works with a rogue detective who isn't what he appears.
7.7 - Malcolm X (1992)
The biopic of the controversial and influential Black Nationalist leader.
7.7 - Man on Fire (2004)
In Mexico City, a former assassin swears vengeance on those who committed an unspeakable act against the family he was hired to protect.
7.7 - Inside Man (2006)
A cop has to talk down a bank robber after the criminal's perfect heist spirals into a hostage situation.
7.8 - American Gangster (2007)
In 1970s America, a detective works to bring down the drug empire of Frank Lucas, a heroin kingpin from Manhattan, who is smuggling the drug into the country from the Far East.
7.9 - Glory (1989)
Robert Gould Shaw leads the US Civil War's first all-black volunteer company, fighting prejudices of both his own Union army and the Confederates.
